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Monday, January 25, 2010

The Great Tile Debate

We spent 3 1/2 hours getting tile on Saturday, and not because we selected some obscure specialty tile that's difficult to acquire. It simply took that long to first compare the offerings of Lowe's and Home Depot, then make the call between the 1" hexagon tiles and a similar option, THEN find 40 square feet of tile from the same lot (to avoid color discrepancies). All told, we went to 3 different Lowe's and 1 Home Depot.

For the floor, we selected a soft white "octagon dot" mosaic tile that is very similar to the 1" hexagon tiles we originally wanted, but a better deal. In fact, the hexagon tile in ceramic cost twice as much as the octagon dot in porcelain. I'll gladly trade a subtle visual difference for a higher quality product at 1/2 the price.

Sample image of the octagon dot floor tile (notice the light gray wall grout):
Octagon Dot tile close up:
Small hex tile close up:
Different product, similar overall effect.

We also picked up the wall tile, a 3"x6" white subway tile. And herein lies the debate...
WHITE GROUT...
OR GRAY GROUT???
Steven and I are split on this, so feel free to weigh in. If it affects your decision, we'll be using a light oyster shell gray for the floor. And while you're at it, feel free to tell me that chair rail cap tile is so striking that it's worth the extra cost ($4.75 per tile vs. $1 for a plain cap tile)

I love it, but is it justifiable? (And notice the white wall grout!)
To be continued...

4 comments:

  1. Chair rail cap tiles= WORTH IT!! Gray grout v. white grout you say? Well, if you've already got gray mixed up for the floor, it would be easy to slap it on the wall.

    But, something to keep in mind- if your tile job on the wall doesn't come out perfect (ie: the spacing between tiles is a little different here and there), then white grout will hide those sins.

    You can't go wrong either way- I love all the tile choices you guys have made!! You're going to have a fab-u-louso bathroom!

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  2. I prefer white grout on wall regardless of gray on floor. You will note that your last example has dark floor grout but white on wall. You want to accent the octagons, but the wall should look more uniform-I suggest white. As to chair rail-definitely worth it-especially if you got such a good deal on floor tile. Much richer look. Like difference between carved molding and ranch molding, all at eye level.

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  3. Roman says:

    White looks better-love the blue/teal on last bathroom sample.

    God bless!

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  4. gray on floor, white on wall with chair rail gets my vote. good luck and wear knee pads!
    ~Ala

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